The Cougars 7 They had blood in their eyes after a poor start to the season in Dubai, where they finished a worrying eighth place. And this weekend they were determined to get revenge, just one step away from winning the stage title Cape TownSouth Africa. In a very close final, the… Lightning bucksThe strong local team responded to the closure and won 21:19 and became two-time champions in their own country.
Argentina started off with a strong run Luciano Gonzalezwho eliminated two rivals and reached the goal to score the first try of the definition, which was also converted by Santiago Vera Field.
A handling error in the end zone Santiago Mare This led to a South African counter-attack, which quickly equalized thanks to Donovan Don’s pace and Ricardo Duarttee’s conversion.
However, the Los Pumas 7s responded and Lucho González appeared in the starting line-up again and scored the try for Marcos Moneta. Vera Feld converted well between the posts and Santiago Gómez Cora’s team took the lead again on the scoreboard with 14:7 and thus reached the break.
The start of the second half couldn’t have been better. Moneta accelerated from his own 22 meters and scored a remarkable try with a fabulous diagonal to make it 19-7 for Los Pumas.
However, South Africa did not give up. And he found the flame of hope in a good maneuver from Sonwabo Sokoyi. Duarttee managed the conversion and left everything one try away with four minutes to play.
The Blitzboks took advantage of a ball from Moneta and Christie Grobbelaar escaped to level the game and allow Duarttee an easy conversion. Things went uphill until the last game was in the hands of Argentina. The South Africans’ good defense prevented Los Pumas 7s from capping off a great weekend with a title.
The Argentinians, who had just beaten Australia and France and lost to Spain in the group stage, started with everything in the semi-final against Fiji. The first attempt came after a pure power run by a stubborn man Luciano Gonzalezwho gained many meters and broke through the opposing defense. The one who finished the play was the captain Santiago Mare which he supported on the other side of the pitch after a good fight. Santiago Vera Field He completed the conversion to make it 7-0.
🤩💥 Exceptional run from Lucho González for a spectacular try from Toto Mare!
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Argentina didn’t take their foot off the accelerator and overwhelmed Fiji with their offensive phases. Marcos Moneta was the one who immediately broke the line and Santiago Álvarez who scored the attempt to make it 12-0. And Álvarez himself was the one who extended the distance with another good run, putting Santiago Gómez Cora’s men ahead 17-0.
👐🏼 Santi appeared!
✊🏻 Álvarez Fourcade found the gap and helped the Argentine team’s second win against Fiji.
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Double pack for Santi Álvarez!
The Bahi native once again came out in full force to support Fiji.
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At the end of the first half, Lucho González was booked, but this situation did not prevent the Los Pumas 7s from going into the break with the same lead and a flawless goal.
With Argentina still having six players on the field, the pressure didn’t let up as the final seven minutes began. And after the start he quickly won the ball back and prevented the Fijians from catching up until González could return to the pitch.
With intelligence and without losing control of the game, the Los Pumas 7s began to play with the clock and after a scrum, Moneta and González combined again to make it 22-0 in the first game after their compulsory break due to their misconduct.
🫡 Get to the point and get paid!
✊🏻 Lucho González appeared alone on the left and scored against Fiji.
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Fiji, who had not yet reached the final 22 meters of the field, found a gap and scored through Viwa Naduvalo’s try and Sakiusa Siqila’s conversion. But Toto Mare seemed to finally end the Islanders’ dream of a comeback with another try, which he converted after Matteo Graziano won the ball back and Eliseo Morales worked it over.
⚡ Full pitch for a spectacular Toto Mare try against Fiji!
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Naduvalo and Maisamoa, separated by Sigila, completed the Fijians’ defeat in the dying seconds but there was no time left. Argentina had done everything well and made a good difference to advance to the decisive game without suffering.
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